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Formed in 3049, the 12th FedCom was stationed on the the world of Marcus until 3057 when the planet was attacked by the Free Worlds League forces in the form of the 7th Free Worlds Legionnaires, Atrean Dragoons, and the 5th Marik Militia. After six days of fighting the RCT would stage a suicidal charge, later named the Battle of Cabot's Stand[2] on the invading forces to buy time for DropShips containing members of the government and industry to escape offworld. The charge was a great success, inflicting crippling damage on the 7th Free Worlds Legionnaires before being surrounded by the Atrean Dragoons and the 5th Marik Militia and being forced to surrender. The RCT would remain prisoners for the rest of hostilities, but would be treated well for their devotion and willingness to sacrifice themselves for others. After hostilities ended, the 12th FedCom was released into the custody of the Lyran Alliance. [3]

Katherine Steiner-Davion after seceding her half of the the Federated Commonwealth ordered the Federated Commonwealth Corps units in her realm renamed the Alliance Guards with the 12th FedCom being renamed the 4th Alliance Guard.[4] The RCT was moved to garrison the world of Lipton to rebuild. The RCT wouldn't reach full strength until just prior to 3067 and was made up of designs from across the Inner Sphere, some very old and some right off the factory floors of the FWL, FedSuns, and Lyran Alliance, including a gift from the FWLM, a lance of Apollo BattleMechs.[3]

During the FedCom Civil War, the 4th Alliance Guard would initially take no part. On January 13th, 3065 the 4th Alliance Guard moved to block the 143rd ComGuard Division who General Gregg, the 4th's commander, thought would use their annual field exercises to declare for the Allies and open a bridgehead for Victor Steiner-Davion's troops. After Precentor Alder Reed stood his troops down, the 4th Alliance Guard also stand down, though tensions remained high. By summer 3065 most of the 4th Alliance Guard would join a taskforce bound for Thorin. [5]

After General Greggs' departure for Thorin, infighting between pro-Free Skye and anti-Free Skye factions began, at first with words, but soon gunfire began. By August 16th the two sides were in open warfare when the 143rd Division would intervene, placing themselves in between the warring factions. Both factions soon returned to their barracks and no further fighting took place, though by late August a large number of the garrison went AWOL or on leave, only later to reappear in Free Skye units. [5]

Leaving Lipton for Thorin, the bulk of the 4th Alliance Guards were ordered to join a taskforce hunting down the Allied Forces commander Victor Steiner-Davion. Joining five other units, the 4th Alliance Guard would make landing on Thorin on August 7th and attacked Ecol City, the planet's defensive hub. Fighting would continue for several months, but the task force found no evidence that Victor Steiner-Davion was onworld. On January 24th, 3066Victor Steiner-Davion did make landing onworld, but remained only two days, then withdrawing with his forces leaving Thorin in loyalist hands. [5] The bulk of the 4th Alliance Guard would remain on Thorin as that worlds garrison for the rest of the Civil War and beyond. [6]

In 3068 the Fourth landed on Thermopolis and damaged the 5th Fusiliers of Oriente. They then redeployed to Autumn Wind briefly, before being pulled back to a reserve position in the face of the Free Worlds League's counterattack. From this reserve position they fought against several raiding units.[7]

During the closing stages of the Jihad the 4th Alliance Guards were one of the units involved in a campaign to snatch worlds from the disbanded Free Worlds League between August and September 3079. The 4th pushed the 34th Marik Militia off Nockatunga in early September, seizing the planetary capital and primary spaceports in a battle fought along entirely conventional means. The 4th Alliance Guards battle with the 34th Marik Militia on Nockatunga was one of only two during the campaign were LAAF and Duchy of Tamarind-Abbey forces would face each other directly.[8]

The Fourth Alliance Guards had the misfortune to be present on Poulsbo on the 13th of February 3081 when a task force from the Principality of Regulus subjected the world to a devastating nuclear bombardment. The Regulans ignored all contact with forces on the planet, stating later that destroying the entire world was the "only way to be sure" that Word of Blake influence on the world had been removed. The bombardment destroyed the Fourth, along with the Heart of Blake mercenary unit, and was a heavy blow to the morale of the Alliance - and a source of outrage directed towards the Principality of Regulus, with calls for prompt and bloody retribution.[9][10]

Since 3049 the unit has been commanded by Leutnant-General Carl Bert Gregg, who is a professional soldier one with a dislike of politics and of Comstar. The Armor Brigade is commanded by Colonel Derek Hyatt and the Infantry Brigade is commanded by Colonel Thelma Speroni.[3]

When the 4th Alliance Guard was a member of the Federated Commonwealth Corp RCTs, the 12th primarily used the FedCom Corps crest as their insignia. After being renamed to the they still wear the Federated Commonwealth uniforms and Insignia on their BattleMechs and vehicles.

The parade colors of the Fourth, is the same as when it was a member of the FedCom Corps, navy blue with gold banding on the arms and legs of 'Mechs. Gold is also used to highlight panels on the upper torsos of 'Mechs and turrets of armor units, resulting in a checkerboard pattern.